Means for joining elements of sectional cabinets



Sept, 13, 1949. c. A. BETTS 2,481,972

MEANS FOR JOINING ELEMENTS OF SECTIONAL CABINETS Filed July 1-1, 1945Patented Sept. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MEANS FOR JOINING ELEMENTS OF SECTIONAL CABINETS Chester A. Betts,Portland, Oreg.

Application July. 11, 1945, Serial No. 604,423

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to refrigeration cabinets andparticularly to a means for joining the elements of a sectional cabinet.

The main object of this invention is to provide a special form of framework or skeleton for refrigerator boxes, coolers, and quick-freeze unitswhich will be easy to construct, easy to assemble and eflicient inoperation.

The second object is to construct a joint for cabinets whereby thoseportions of the joints subjected to stress will not be made of materialswhich can easily deteriorate.

The third object of this invention is to construct a device of the classdescribed in a manner that the assembling can be performed with aminimum amount of effort and with the expenditure of the least portionof time.

The fourth object is to provide an appreciable amount of resistancewithin the joint itself in order that inequalities of manufacture may berendered unobjectionable.

The fifth object is to so construct the joint that the assemblingelements may be restored in a restricted position and released forextension purposes when the related parts are in position.

These and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in thefollowing specification, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a representative form of cabinet showinga portion broken away to disclose the construction.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of a joint.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through a corner joint.

Fig. e is an enlarged detail of the spring loaded bolt.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a special nut.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the wrench used for operating the specialnut.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section through a joint showing twosections assembled.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing there is shown in Fig. l a cabinetcomposed of a plurality of sections or panels Ill consisting of plainmetal sheets having the inturned edges ll. Between the sheets Ill aredisposed the joining members which form the base of this invention. Theywill be seen to consist of a breaker strip l2 of any non-metallicmaterial which is a poor conductor of heat and not absorbent of water orsusceptible to damage by termites. If wood is employed it must besuitably treated and I prefer the use of a'fiber board or other materialbetter adapted for the purpose than is wood.

To each of the opposite sides of the breaker strip I2 is attached ametallic channel [3 whose legs M is secured to the breaker strip [2 bymeans of the screws l5. The legs I6 are provided with oppositely turnedflanges I! which are preferably shrouded with masking tape I8 or othersuitable insulating material.

The channels l3 are provided with keyhole slots l9 whose smaller end 2i]is large enough to receive the grooved portion 2| of the nut 22 whilethe larger portion of the slot i9 is large enough to permit the entirenut to pass therethrough.

On the inner side of one pair of channels l3--A is mounted a squarehousing 23 within which is disposed a square headed bolt 24 whosethreaded portion 25 can slidably pass through the channel i3-A and enterthe nut 22 when the parts are brought together and the nut 22 can beturned by means of the wrench 26 as shown in Fig. 7.

It is desirable to provide a spring 21 within the housing 23 to normallyurge the bolt 24 outwardly. The bolt 24 is held in retracted positionprior to assembling b means of a piece of masking tape or othercontrivance until it is desired to have it engage the nut 22.

It will be noted in Fig. '7 that the breaker strips I2 do not extend tothe outer face of the members l3 and l3-A and a portion of the spacetherebetween is occupied by a gasket 28 of rubber or other suitablematerial, preferably resilient, and between which is placed the spacerstrip 29. The spacer strip 29 may be made of the same material as arethe strips 12. It will be noted that the edges H engage the maskedflanges I! when the parts are assembled and leave enough roomtherebetween for the operation of the wrench 26 in order that the nuts22 may be turned and the elements 28 be held in compressionthat is, thesections held closely together. When the tightening of the nuts 22 iscompleted, an ornamental molding 30 is placed between the edges ll,thereby preventing passage of air therebetween. An insulator 3| ispreferably placed between the members 30 and I I to prevent theconduction of heat therethrough.

It will be understood that a suitable insulating material 32 occupiesthe space between the panels The manner of assembling the structure isas follows:

Each section is first assembled by itself, preferably, at themanufacturing plant, and consists of the two wall sheets ID, as well asthe two walls 13 and |3A which are in the form of channels and areseparated by breaker strips I2.

When placed on the job, the sections are assembled by inserting nuts 22,in the slots 59 and by inserting the asket 28 and spacer 29, and thenengaging the'ibolts 24 withathe'nuts 22, to fasten the-two pairs ofimemberslv3iandel 3-:A together.

The nuts 22, are actuated by the wrench 325, through the slot I9 betweenthemembers. H, which is afterwards closed by means'ofythemolding 30.

I claim:

1. A joint for refrigeration cabinetsections consisting of alongitudinal spacer strip, gaskets disposed along opposite edges of saidsstrip, .a breaker strip againstxeach gasket, said breaker r stripsiandspacer strip occupying the samed'plane,

channels having their innermostlegssecured. to

said breaker. strips, .and extending .along -:said ...spac er strip, theoutermost leg of 1 eachof :said .uchannels turnmginthe oppositedirection than ,doessaidinnermost leg; panels .of metal forming theinterior andexterior-cover-ing for thesecticns,

-; each panelhaving an' inturned. edge adapted .to

engage the cu-termost leg-ol-each of said chan- :I,1e1s, b01ts passing.throughadj acent channels-and gnuts onsaid bolts aengaginga ,pairsofsaid chan- =:I1e1S and .proj ecting. into a-space between adjacentpanels sothatsaid nutsareadaptedto be turned (through the ,space betweenadjacent edges of said channels and a molding occupying the space be-,tween. the ledgesofsaid channels.

, 2. The device asdescribedin claim 1 together .withaspring means .forurgingsaid bolts through both of said walls when saidwalls-are in aapre-,determined alinement.

3. A joint-tor panels consisting -:-of aapair of breakenstrips, aninterposed spaceustrzip with. resilient packing between said breaker andspacer st-rips, "each :of saidpbreakerestripshaving: channels :securedtoopposite \sides thereofaandslidably engaging the spacer-strip,saidachannels having A their-sides turned in, the opposite. directionfrom their inner sides, ametallic rcoverings-.-hauinginturned edgesengaging the peripheries of theout- .ermost sides -.of the channels,i-the sides of said ,spacer rstrip serving to.,-hold the bodies .of the"consisting, ofman elongated wooden spacer strip, wooden-breaker stripsdisposed alongside of said spacer strip, resilient gaskets disposedbetween fTSaid spacer and breaker strips, channels having..their..innermost legs disposed on opposite sides of said spacer andbreaker strips, the outermost leg of-eachrof said channels turning inthe opposite direction than does said innermost leg to form an outwardlyturnedhook onnsaid ichanneLcmetal ,.panels.forming .theinterior andexteriorcoverings-,for: the cabinet sections, each, panelhavinganinturned edgeadaptedtoengage theoutwardly turned hooks of \saidchannels, bolts ;..passing ,throughsaidadjacent channels, ,nutsfonsaidtbolts engaging a pair of ,saidchannels one of saidmuts extendinginto the spacebetweenadiacentpanels vso that the nuts may .betunne'd-throuhuthespace between the adjacent hookedges of. said channelsand a molding removablysoccupying thedspace between theedgessofisaidchannel-hooks.

CHESTER. A. ABETTS.

REEERENGESICITED "The following references :arenof reccrdzzintthe fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

